Chapter 34: New Day, New Spirit

The most peaceful day of my life, it turns out, was merely a warm-up for the next disaster. August 4th. Two days before my parents return. It was supposed to be an ordinary day. Supposed to be.

"I forgot to mention something, Kengo." The manager called out to me from behind the register. "We have new staff starting today."

I paused. "New staff?"

"Yeah. Starting now."

I let out a breath of relief. Finally, some reinforcement. "Thank goodness," I muttered. "At least I won't have to carry this place alone anymore."

Moments later, the manager gathered us. "They start today. Kengo, you're in charge of their training."

I pointed to myself. "Me?"

"Yes. You're the most experienced one here."

Was this a great honor... or a fresh trap?

The automatic doors slid open with a hiss. I turned—and an immediate sense of dread washed over me like a sudden storm cloud in a clear sky.

"Oh, they're here," the manager said casually.

I froze. "...You guys?"

Standing before me were two very familiar faces: Hoshimiya Kanon and Kusakabe Kaito.

"Oi," I said flatly. "What exactly are you doing here?"

Kanon beamed a radiant smile. "Tehee~ I’m not too busy right now, so I wanted to come help Kengo-nii!"

I didn't even know how to process that. I turned my gaze to Kaito. "And you? Planning to shake down the customers?"

Kaito raised his hands defensively. "Relax, bro. I’ve changed."

I narrowed my eyes. "Seriously?"

"I made a promise to my future wife."

"...Future wife?"

"Yup."

I stared at him for a long, skeptical moment. "...You're getting married?"

"Yeah, bro. Can't be a bad boy forever, right?"

I let out a long sigh. Finally, he’d evolved. "Alright then," I said. "Let's get to work."

I began the walkthrough. Shelves. The POS system. The warehouse. The general workflow. To my genuine surprise, Kaito was dead serious. He took notes, he nodded, he didn't slack off for a second. Is this actually the same guy?

"Kaito, you're a quick learner."

"Heh, the past is the past, bro."

I offered a thin smile. Good. Then I turned to Kanon. "Kanon, did you get all that?"

She scratched her cheek sheepishly. "Ehehe... retail is actually pretty complicated, isn't it?"

I chuckled. "Don't worry. Everyone starts somewhere." I patted her head lightly. "You'll be fine."

In an instant, she lunged into a hug. "Kengo-nii is the best!"

"Oi! Don't just—"

"Are you two that close?" Kaito asked, blinking.

Kanon answered nonchalantly. "We sleep together all the time."

"...HEEH?!" Kaito stood frozen like a statue.

"STOP SAYING MISLEADING STUFF!" I shouted.

"Eh? But isn't it true?"

I took a deep, stabilizing breath. "She's my cousin."

"Oh..." Kaito nodded quickly, then his eyes went wide. "Wait—HEEH?! So this is that idol?!"

Kanon just laughed.

"Bro," Kaito said, clapping a hand on my shoulder, "you're like a magnet."

It’s not a magnet. It’s a curse.

The shift began. The day proceeded normally—too normally. Late afternoon arrived, and the sky began to bruise with heavy clouds.

"Delivery's here!" the manager shouted.

Kaito and I jumped into action. Hauling boxes. Stocking the warehouse. Then, the rain hit—sudden, violent, as if the sky were dumping all its pent-up emotion at once.

"Move fast!" Kaito urged.

We worked without a break. Then, suddenly, my head felt weightless. My vision began to blur at the edges.

"Kengo?" Kaito’s voice sounded like it was coming from the bottom of a well. "You okay?"

"I'm... fine..."

THUD.

Everything went black.

"KENGO?!"

Panicked voices. A hand pressed against my forehead. "He’s burning up!"

The sound of footsteps. Kanon’s voice. And then, everything vanished.

I opened my eyes to the familiar sight of my bedroom ceiling. "...Hah." I let out a soft, weary sigh. "Guess I need to rest."

I closed my eyes again. What is the most precious thing in life? I asked myself. Dreams? The people we love?

I nodded slowly. But there’s one thing we always forget until it’s gone: health.

Health is like the air we breathe. You don't notice it when it's there, but you feel every second of its absence. We push ourselves too hard. Late nights. Skipping meals. As if this body has no limits. But the body is a house—it's the place where all your dreams live.

The body is the foundation, and dreams are just the building on top. Taking care of your health isn't a weakness; it's a form of respecting life.

If today you can breathe easily, walk without pain, and smile without a burden... be grateful. Time doesn't wait, and the body is always honest.

"When I get better..." I whispered to the empty room, "I have to be more careful."

Meanwhile, in another part of the city...

A long, opulent dining table. Silence so thick it felt tangible. Kurumi sat perfectly upright, her hair immaculate, her gaze steady.

"Kurumi," her mother said. "Are you ready?"

"I am." A short, clipped answer.

Her father offered a thin smile. "Good."

Her mother continued, "The engagement ceremony will begin shortly."

Silence returned. Kurumi lowered her head slightly. Her heart felt like a thin sheet of glass, vibrating under the pressure, ready to shatter.

I still love him.

Her hands clenched into fists beneath the table. But I... I don't want to lose everything.

For the first time, her trademark smile felt heavy. Like someone standing between two worlds, not knowing which way to step.